Dry cleaning apparatus



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. c. sMn-H DRY CLEANING APPARATUS May 27, 1958 Filed June 4, 1954 1N V EN TOR.

IAVI TRN SS .NN m SS dfn May 27, 1958 J. c. SMITH DRY CLEANING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 4, 1954 mum.

May 27, 1958 J. c. SMITH 2,836,045

DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed June 4, 1954 4 sheets-sheety s INVENTOR. JC/ C.

ATTORNEYS.

May 27, 1958 J. c. sMxTH DRY CLEANING APPARTUS Filed June 4, 1954 U IVI mmm s: NGS:

A TTORNEYS.

United States Patent 'C DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Jack C. Smith, Detroit, Mich., assigner to Detrex Chemical Industries, inc., a corporation of lvichigan Application June 4, 1354, Serial No. 434,381

4 Claims. (Cl. Gti-18) This invention relates to dry cleaning apparatus, that is to say, to apparatus for cleaning clothes and articles of textile manufacture by treatment with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents such as perchlorethylene and the like. More particularly, the invention has reference to dry cleaning apparatus of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,574,251 granted to Clarence F. Dinley on November 6, 1951. This apparatus includes a machine in which vthe material to be lcleaned is tumbled about in a rotary drum and is alternately dipped into and raised from the solvent. Selectively usable filter units are provided through which the lsolvent .is passed for removal of dirt, lint and other solid matter, and there is a still to which the solvent is conducted from the idle filter unit Vfor 'removal of impurities before vbeing returned for `re-u'se in the machine.

Heretofore, with 'apparatus of this type, it was necessary to remove the filter bags from'the'lters from time to time and to transfer them to aseparate recovery unit 'for salvaging the entrained lsolvent. This procedure not only entailed the handling of the heavy solvent saturated bags but idling of the apparatus until the "bags were irestored, with consequent loss vof time which -could more profitably be devoted to processing of -,the garments. At best, only a small portiono'f the solvent could -berecovered inthis way. Another and likewise inefficient procedure practiced heretofore, was to place the :filter .bags in a centrifuge for recovery of the solvent.

The chief aim -of my vinvention is 'to :overcome the Ydrawbacks `above mentioned, or in other words, to make possible the complete recovery rof the solvent from the dirty iilter bags before wtihdrawing 'them 'from :the filter units-for'removal'ofaccumulations of contaminates, without necessitating idling of the apparatus Vwhile .the bags .are reconditioned.

How the foregoingand other important advantagesare realized in Ipractice vwill appear from fthe zfollowing .detailed description of 4the attached drawings, "wherein:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of .a dry cleaning apparatus with a iilteringsystem conveniently embodying my invention.

Fig. .2 iis '-view dra-wn Sto .a larger 'scale lshowing one -of the tilterarnits:inwfertical section.

Fig. 3 is ilikewise a vertical section .of the .filter unit :but tkenias indicated 'bytne angled arrows .ill-Till in 'Figi Fig. 4 shows a 'horizontal "section taken as indicated by the angled arrows 'lV-"i`V 'in "Fig '3.

Fig, 5 is a perspective view of one of the iilter bags associated with the unit of Figs. 2-4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary detail views in section taken .as indicated respectively by the angled arrows VI-VI and Vil VII in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a viev,7 corresponding to Fig. l showing another pha'se in the operation of the system.

With more speciiic reference rst to Fig. 1 of these illustrations, the numeral 10 designates a dry cleaning 'ice 2 machine which may be of the type disclosed in the Dinley patent hereinbefore referred to. The two associated selectively usable -filters are indicated at 11 and 12 respectively, the purification still at 13, and the water separator and after cooler at '14. Leading from the machine is a pipe line 16 with branches 17 and 18 that connect into opposite vsides of the -filters 11 and 12 at the top. interposed in the pipe line is a power driven pump 19, and interposed in the branches 17 and 18 are valves 20 and 21. The filters 11 and 12 are connected at the top by an out iiow pipe 22 in which valves 23 and 24 are interposed, and connecting `into said pipe 22 between said valves is a pipe line 25 which 'extends back to the machine 10. Extending between vthe filters 11 and 12 at the Ybottom is a drain pipe 26 in which Yare interposed individual drain control valves 27., 28, 'and leading from said 'pipe between said `valves to the purification still 13, is a pipe .29. By Way of ,a pipe 30, Vthe still 13 is in communication with the water separator and after cooler 14, while the latter is communicative in turn, through a pipe 31, with the dry cleaning machine 10.

The filters 11 and 12 are identical and except as hereinafter particularly pointed out, are ofthe same 'construction as those of the 'Dinley patent, supra, in that each of them comprises, as instanced in Figs. 2 and .3, an upright casing which is 4rectangular .in horizontal section, .and Vwhich has a removable top .cover 36. Arranged side by side within the casing 35 are plural filter bags 37 which may `be of canvas, and arranged beneath, around and between' said bags are screens 38, 39 and di) of wire mesh. Secured in one ,end wall of each filter bag 37 adjacent the tcp isa grommet 41 which is engaged overa corresponding nozzle tip 42 extending in Wardly through the 'wall of the casing from a manifold 43 into which the pipe 17 Valready mentioned connects. Along one of its top edges, each filter .bag 37 is provided, as best shown in Fig. 5,'with a zipper or slide closure 45 whereby access can be had to the interior.

In order to adapt a dry cleaning apparatus such ,as described up to this point to the purposes of my `invention, I have made the provisions about to be described.

From Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it will be noted that, within the bottom of each filter, a Vhollow 46 is set apart by a horizontal partition or diaphragm 47 in which hollow water or other coolant introduced vthrough a pipe 48-is caused to circulate around a baie 49 before discharge through a pipe '50, the liow being 'controllable by means of a valve 51 in the pipe 48.

VReferring again to Fig. l, it will be noted that `.pipes 55 and 56 leading from a suitablesource of steam-supply (not shown) are connected into the `branch pipes .17 and 1S beyond the valves 20 and 21, said vpipes S5 and 56 being litted with shut-off valves '57 and V58 respectively. From Fig. l, it will be further noted that steam traps conventionally indicated at 59 and 60 are interposedin the drain pipe 26 respectively at opposite sides of the juncture between said-pipe and the continuingrpipe29.

Operation *InFig -1, assume that the dry cleaning machine 10 is :runningwith:theiiilter11f-in use,andwith thevalves 20,

the piping 26 and 29 into the'still 13, and the stripping of the filter bags 37 is accomplished by introduction of steam into their tops through the piping 56 and 18, the valves 27 and 57 having beenpclosed andthek valves 28 and 578y `havingbeen opened. While the steam stripping ofthe bags 37 in the filter 12 Vis in progress, coolant is vcontinuously passed through the hollow base of the filter 127, the coolantentering by way of pipe 48 (of which -the lcorresponding valver51 is open at this time) and leaving by wayvof the-pipe 50. Y The solvent (which normally fills the filter V12) drains off in arcomparatively short time after which the hot dry steam evaporates the Vremaining solvent from the lter bags 37, the Asteam with the entrained recovered solvent being condensed on the sides andthe bottom of the filter casing by the' faction of Vthe coolant circulated in the hollow' 46, and

vpasses out through the drain pipe 26.V In traversing the trap 60 most of the. steam is eliminated,fwhile the captured liquid solvent continuesfon to the still 13 by way of the pipe 29.-where itis boiled olf, re-condensed and discharged therefrom into the-separator,V and after cooler A14 through pipe 30 for extraction therefrom of any water content which may KYhave, been carried along. the purified recovered solvent is conducted from the separator 14 through the pipe 31 to a-sump (not'sh'own) at the Vbottom of the machine 10 for re-use in the cleaning.

After elapse of sufficient time for complete stripping of the bags in the filter 12,VV the valve's'28, 58 and*V 51 are closed to shut off the supply of steamand coolant to the filter 12.A VWith this accomplished, the cover 36 (Figs. 2

and 3) of the filter 12 is retracted to permit withdrawal of the filter bags 37 for removal of accumulations of filter aid and contaminates therefrom in the Vusual way,

Vthe bags being subsequently Vreplaced andthe cover re,-

closed in readiness for re-use of the filter.

VThe bags in the'lter 11 `can be cleaned and stripped ,'in'a like manner while the filterlZ is being used with the dry cleaning machine V10, by .setting the various valves as shown in Fig. 8, i. e.,-by closing the valves 20, 23 and 23 and opening the valves 21, 24,127,157 and the valve 51 associated with said filter 11. Under these conditions, the solvent will be circulated between the machineandthe l filter 12 by way of the piping 16, 17, 22 and 25, and the 'lilterY l11 will drain through piping 26, and 29 into the still 13.` The bags the filter 11y are stripped, in the meanwhile, by Y'steam admitted through the pipe .55, and the sol- ;v'ent laden steam condensed in the said filter as a result of passage of coolant through the base 46 from the pipe 48 to the pipe 50, the condensate also finding its way to the still 13 vthrough the drain piping 26, 29. After being,` puried iu the-still 13, the recovered solvent is'conducted, as before, through pipe 30 tothe separator-14 Vfor extraction of any water which may have been entrained, and finally from said separator by wayr of the pipe 31 into the sump at the bottom of the machine V11i-.for rre-use in the dry cleaning. i vAfter expiration of the time necessary to insure *thoroughV stripping of the filter'11, the valve 27,

' thecorre'sponding valve 51 and thevalve 57 are closed,

the bags withdrawn for removal of the contaminates therefrom,v and the bags finallyrestored in readiness for re-use of said filter with the machine 10 asV before.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a specific cleaning machine,'it will be understood that Vthe system as. hereinafter claimed is applicable to other types of,clean1ng units. While the preferred embodiment Finally,

- of this invention has been bag suspended in the kupper4 chamber; a nozzleV through which the `contaminated solvent is normally introduced into the filterV bag; an inlet -conduit through which the contaminated solvent is normally conducted to the nozzle, having a normally-open valve interposed therein; a steam pipe connected into said conduit beyond the aforesaid valve and having a normally closed interposed valve therein; an outlet. conduit at the Ytoprof the upper chamber through which the filtered solvent Yis normally conducted from theV filter, having a normally-open valve interposed therein; a drain conduit at the bottom of the upper chamber having a normally closed valve interposed therein;l

and meansy operable, upon closing the first mentioned valve and the outlet valve and openingrtlieA steam and Y drain valves, to circulate coolant through the lower Vcharn- Y ber for condensation of the steam and the stripped solvent( vapor and discharge ofthe condensates in liquid formu Ythrough the drain conduit.

2. Dry cleaning apparatus comprising'a Vmachine, into Y which the material to becleaned is placed; a pair, of filters each characterized as in claim l, meansV for circulating V the solvent'between the machine and Vone of thefilters during the cleaning while the kother filter is idle; a still to which the drainage from the idled filter is conducted in the meanwhile; vand a Water vseparator, and after cooler toVV which the vapor from the still is conducted and from which the recovered solvent, after-removal t of the water therefrom, is conducted to a sump for re-use in the machine.

V3. A dry cleaning apparatus including a dry cleaning machine; and a filter, characterized as in claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet conduits are connected to the machine, and wherein a circulatingV pump is interposed in said inlet conduit in advanceof the point of connection of the steam pipe as considered with regard tothe direction of normal ow, of the solvent l.through said inlet conduit.

4. A dry cleaning apparatus including a dry cleaning machineand a filter, characterized as in claim l, wherein the inlet andoutlet conduits are connected to the machine, and wherein a circulating pump is Ainterposed in said inlet conduit iu advance of the point of connection ofthe steam pipe, with regard to theV direction ofinormal flow of the solvent through said inlet conduit, a still to which the recovered solvent and condensate is Aconducted from the filter during the stripping; and a waterY separator and after cooler in communication with the lter and from which the recovered solvent alorie is conducted into the machine for re-use in the cleaning.

References Citedv in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,114,776 Davis 1 Apr. 19, 193s 2,574,251 Diniey Nov. 6, 1951 2,656,696 McDonald oef. 27, 1953 2,660,869 McDonald Desi, 1953 

